Method and apparatus for drilling and bolting a mine roof

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled roof drill and bolter has a forwardly extending boom with a vertical drilling and bolting device connected thereto. A saddle member extends forwardly from the boom and is arranged to support a portable roof support member thereon and to carry the portable roof support member in a retracted position to various locations in the mine where rows of bolts are to be set in the mine roof. The portable roof support is connected to the hydraulic system of the self-propelled roof drill by elongated flexible hoses. At a location where rows of roof bolts are to be set the portable roof support is positioned inby of the proposed row of bolts and extended by fluid under pressure from the selfpropelled roof drill into contact with the mine roof and mine floor. The portable roof support in this position provides support for a section of the mine roof adjacent the proposed row of bolts. The drill boom is then lowered to disengage the saddle from the portable roof support while the support remains in an extended roof supporting position. The self-propelled drill is then free to maneuver behind the portable roof support to drill holes in the mine roof and place bolts therein while supplying fluid under pressure through the elongated flexible hoses to the portable roof support. After the rows of roof bolts have been set, the roof drill is maneuvered to engage the portable roof support by the saddle on the drill boom and after the roof support is retracted preferably through fluid under pressure through hosing to the hydraulic system of the self-propelled roof drill, the portable roof support is in condition to be carried by the self-propelled drill and bolter to another location.

United States Patent [1 1 Jamison [451 Nov. 26, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND BOLTING A MINE ROOF Will B. Jamison, Bethel Park, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: May 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 361,520

Related 1.1.8. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 286,744, Sept. 6, 1972,

[75] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor [5 7] ABSTRACT A self-propelled roof drill and bolter has a forwardly extending boom with a vertical drilling and bolting device connected thereto. A saddle member extends forwardly from the boom and is arranged to support a portable roof support member thereon and to carry the portable roof support member in a retracted position to various locations in the mine where rows of bolts are to be set in the mine roof. The portable roof support is connected to the hydraulic system of the self'propelled roof drill by elongated flexible hoses. At a location where rows of roof bolts are to be set the portable roof support is positioned inby of the proposed row of bolts and extended by fluid under pressure from the self-propelled roof drill into contact with the mine roof and mine floor. The portable roof support in this position provides support for a section of the mine roof adjacent the proposed row of bolts. The drill boom is then lowered to disengage thesaddle from the portable roof support while the support remains in an extended roof supporting position. The self-propelled drill is then free to maneuver behind the portable roof support to drill holes in the mine roof and place bolts therein while supplying fluid under pressure through the elongated flexible hoses to the portable roof support, After the rows of roof bolts have been set, the roof drill is maneuvered to engage the portable roof support by the: saddle on the drill boom and after the roof support is retracted preferably through fluid under pressure through hosing to the hydraulic system of the self-propelled roof drill, the portable roof support is in condition to be carried by the self-propelled drill and bolter to another location.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING AND BOLTING A MINE ROOF This is a division of application Ser. No. 286,744, filed Sept. 6, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drilling and bolting a mine roof and more particularly to a method and apparatus for providing temporary roof support adjacent the location where roof bolts are to be installed.

. 2. Description of the Prior Art In underground mining especially the mining of coal the present accepted practice is to provide support for the roof formed during the mining operation by drilling vertical holes in the roof to a preselected depth and anchoring roof bolts in the predrilled bolt holes. The roof bolts with conventional, expandable, wedge-type members and bearing plates tie the overhead strata together and limit strata movement and heaving to thus minimize the possibility of roof falls. In conventional mining where blocks of coal are dislodged from the face, it is necessary to set rows of roof bolts in the roof at preselected distances from the face so that only a preselected length of roof is present between the mine face and the last row of bolts. Studies indicate a majority of roof fails occur in the unsupported portion of the roof between the mine face and the last placed row of bolts.

In order to maintain the unsupported portion of the roof at a preselected minimum, it is necesssary, after loading the dislodged coal, to tram a self-propelled roof drill and bolter into the haulageway and set rows of bolts inby of the last row of bolts to thus reduce the length of unsupported roof. The setting of a row of bolts requires the self-propelled drill and bolter to first drill the row of vertical holes in the roof and to anchor roof bolts therein. The personnel operating the roof drill and bolter are frequently working beneath a portion of the unsupported roof. There is a need for a method of temporarily supporting the'roof inby of the area where the roofdrill and bolter personnel are working without exposing other personnel to the same hazard and thus provide a roof section that is supported in substantially the same manner as the roof bolts while the row of roof bolts are being installed.

In order to provide some protection for the personnel operating the roof drill and bolter, it has been the practice in the past to manually set several temporary jacks or posts inby of the location where the row of bolts are to be set to thus reduce the dangers of roof fall for the personnel setting the line of roof bolts. The manual placement of the temporary jacks is not satisfactory because it exposes the personnel setting the jacks to the same hazards as the personnel operating the roof drill and bolter under unsupported roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed primarily to a method and apparatus for drilling and bolting a mine roof while providing temporary roof support at the location where the proposed row of bolts are to be installed. The apparatus includes a self-propelled roof drill and bolter that has a boom member extending forwardly therefrom. A vertical drilling and bolting device is connected to the front end of the drill boom for drilling boltholes in the mine roof and positioning roof bolts therein. A saddle member extends forwardly from the boom and is arranged to engage a cross member of a portable, temporary roof support. The portable roof support has a pair of fluid pressure actuated telescopic jacks connected to a top cross member and a bottom cross member. The top cross member has bearing pad portions operable to engage the mine roof and the bottom cross member is arranged to engage the mine floor. Flexible hoses connected at one end to the hydraulic system of the self-propelled drill and bolter are connected at the other end to the fluid pressure actuated telescopic jacks. The flexible hoses are of sufficient length to permit the drill boom to be disengaged from the portable temporary support while fluid under pressure is supplied from the self-propelled roof drill and bolter and for the self-propelled drill to maneuver relative to the portable temporary roof support to set a row of bolts outby thereof.

The method for drilling and bolting a mine roof while providing temporary roof support includes transporting a temporary roof support device on a self-propelled roof drill and bolter to a preselected location in a mine, providing fluid under pressure from the self-propelled roof drill and bolter to the telescopic jacks of the temporary roof support to extend the temporary roof support into a roof supporting position; and maneuvering the self-propelled roof drill adjacent to the temporary roof support to drill a row of bolt holes and set a row of roof bolts therein, and thereafter engaging the portable temporary roof support with a portion of the selfpropelled roof drill and bolter and retracting the telescopic jacks with fluid under pressure from the selfpropelled roof drill and bolter.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for drilling and bolting a mine roof without requiring the operating personnel to work under unsupported roof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for positioning a temporary roof support inby of a location where a row of bolts are to be set without requiring the operating personnel to work under unsupported roof.

These and other objects ofthis invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the roof drill having a temporary portable roof support carried by the boom of the roof drill in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation, illustrating the roof support in an extended roof supporting position with the roof drill boom detached from the temporary portable roof support.

FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation. taken along the line III-Ill of FIG. 2, illustrating the roof support in an extended position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in frontelevation, illustrating the pads on the roof support rotated to a position parallel to the roof drill boom member for transportation through the mine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated diagrammatically a roof drill and bolter generally designated by the numeral 10 that has a body portion 12 supported on pairs of propelling wheels 14 and 16 and a longitudinally extending boom 18. The boom 18 is pivotally secured to the body 12 and has a drill pot or drill unit 20 pivotally secured by means of pins 22. The drill 10 may be any conventional roof drill as, for example, the roof drills manufactured and sold by Galis Manufacturing Division, Fairmont,

West Virginia, as Models 300; 310 and 320.

The boom 18 has a pair of forwardly extending saddle plates 24 with an arcuate recessed portion 26 therein. The saddle plates 24 preferably terminate closely adjacent the end of boom 18 so that the saddle plates 24 do not interfere with the drilling and bolting operation as the drill pot 20 moves upwardly against the mine roof. Also, the saddle plates 24 can be rigidly secured to the boom in angular relation and extend forwardly from the boom 21 greater distance and not interfere with the drilling and bolting operation and provide adequate clearance for the upward movement of the roof drill into the mine roof.

The drill unit 20 is arranged to receive a drill stem 28 in a chuck and rotation is provided for the drill by suitable hydraulic or pneumatic means. The roof drill 10 has a hydraulic pump 72 mounted thereon and suitably driven by an electric motor 74. The pump 72 and motor 74 are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and are conventional to provide fluid under pressure for the hydraulic system of the roof drill 10. The hydraulic system for the roof drill I is also conventional and is not illustrated with the exception of a valve 76 for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to the portable roof support 30. The boom member 18 has a laterally extending hanger 78 for supporting hydraulic hoses as later explained.

The portable roof support 30 has a pair of telescopic jacks 32 and 34 that are arranged to be extended and retracted by fluid under pressure and, where desired, may also be maintained in an extended position by fluid under pressure. The jacks 32 and 34 may include suitable check valves so that they remain in an extended position in the absence of fluid under pressure being supplied thereto. The jacks 32 and 34 are connected at one end to an upper cross member 36 and have semispherical base portions 38 and 40. The base portions 38 and 40 are secured in sockets 42 and 44 of a bottom cross member 46.

A pair of pads 48 and 50 are connected to the upper cross member 36 by pins 52 and 54 in a manner that the pads'48 and 50 are rotatable relative to the cross member 36 so that they may be aligned with the longitudinally extending boom 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1, while the drilling machine 10 is trammed through confined haulageways. The rotation of the pads 48 and 50 to the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 reduces substantially the width of the portable roof support 30. The

pads 48 and 50 are rotatable to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to provide an elongated load bearing surface transversely across the haulageway.

A pair of elongated flexible hydraulic hoses 56 and 58 are connected at one end through valve 76 to the hydraulic system of the roof drill 10 and at the other end to inlet openings in each of the jacks 32 and 34. The valve 76 located preferably at the operators compartment of the roof drill is arranged to selectively provide fluid under pressure from the roof drill hydraulic system to the double acting jacks to either extend or retract the telescopic jacks 32 and 34 to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Suitable valving within the jacks 32 and 34 may be provided to permit setting the jacks with a controlled pressure and the yielding of the jacks at a controlled pressure, which is usually twice the setting pressure. The valving within the jacks preferably provides holding support should the hydraulic hoses 56 and 58 be damaged or a loss of hydraulic pressure be experienced in the hydraulic system of the roof drill. In the drawings telescopic, double acting jacks are illustrated to provide the range of heights shown. It should be understood, however, that single acting jacks and non-telescopicjacks may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

The transverse upper cross member 36 of the portable temporary roof support 30 has a semi-circular de pending bearing plate 60 secured thereto that has substantially the same configuration as the arcuate recess 26 in saddle plates 24. A connecting rod 62 is pivotally secured at one end to the saddle plates 24 and detachably secured at the other end to the bottom transverse member 46. With this arrangement, the rod 62 is arranged to secure the portable roof support 30 to the saddle 24 and prevent the roof support 30 from swinging while the drill 10 is tramming in the mine. It should be understood, however, that the connecting rod 62 is not essential to practice the herein described invention.

The apparatus above described operates in the following manner. The portable roof support 30 is retracted by fluid under pressure from the hydraulic system of the roof drill 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and the saddle plates 24 extend between the jacks 32 and 34 with the arcuate bearing plate 60 on the support cross member 36 positioned in the arcuate recess 26 of saddle plates 24. The drill boom 18 is elevated to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and the bearing pads 48 and 50 are pivoted about pins 52 and 54 to be substantially aligned with the drill boom 18 and thus reduce the width of the support 30. If desired, a rod 62 can be connected to the support base member 46 and the saddle plates 24. In the position illustrated in FIG. 1 the roof drill 10 with the portable roof support 30 carried by the boom member 18 trams along the haulageway to the working section of the mine where the roof is to be bolted for roof support. As is illustrated in FIG. I, there is substantial vertical clearance between the mine roof 64 and floor 66 so that the portable roof support 30 does not interfere with the tramming of the roof drill 10.

When the roof drill 10 is trammed to a location adjacent the location where the rows of bolts are to be set and preferably while the portable roof support 30 carried by the drill boom 18 is beneath a bolted section of the roof, the pads 48 and 50 are rotated to a position substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boom 18. Thereafter, the drilling machine 10 is further the hydraulic hoses 56 and 58 to the telescopic jacks 32 and 34 to expand the jacks 32 and 34 so that the upper pads 48 and 50 contact the roof 64 and the transverse base member 46 contacts the mine floor 66 to thus provide support for the mine roof 64 at the location.

Suitable hydraulic pressure is maintained by the hydraulic system of the roof drill on the jacks through the hoses 56 and 58 to support the roof at the location of the portable support 30. The drilling machine boom 18 is then moved downwardly to free the saddle members 24 from the support cross member 36. The hydraulic hoses 56 and 58 are disengaged from the hanger on the boom 18 of the drilling machine 10 and have sufficient length to permit the drilling machine 10 to maneuver behind the portable roof support 30 and drill rows of bolts are being set is supported by the portable roof support 30. After the row of bolts has been set, the boom 18 is elevated and positioned with the recessed portion 26 of the saddle plates 24 abutting the arcuate bearing plate 60 and hydraulic valving within the roof drill 10 is actuated to provide fluid under pressure to retract the telescopic jacks 32 and 34 and the portable roof support can then be advanced while suspended from the drill boom 18 to a location inby of the location where the next row of bolts are to be set. The jacks 32 and 34 can again be expanded to provide support for the roof at this new location. The boom 18 is then again lowered and the drilling machine 10 maneuvered to drill the next holes in the roof and position the next transverse row of bolts therein. After the section of the roof adjacent the working face is properly bolted the portable roof support 30 is again engaged by the saddle members 24 and the telescopic jacks 32 and 34 are retracted and the pads 48 and 50 rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the drilling machine 10 is trammed to a new location where the above bolting operation is repeated. With this arrangement, the portable roof support 30 is transported with the roof drill 10 to the bolt locations and is detached from the roof drill after it is in an extended supporting position with the exception of the hydraulic hoses 56 and 58. The hoses 56 and 58, however, have sufficient length to permit the drilling machine 10 to maneuver relative to the portable roof support 30 and drill suitable bolt holes and set the roof bolts therein.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of the invention have been explained and what is considered to represent its best embodiment has been illustrated and described. However, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof at a preselected location while providing temporary roof support adjacent the preselected location comprising,

a self-propelled vehicle having apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof,

a portable roof support having an upper portion operable to engage the mine roof and a lower portion operable to engage the mine floor,

telescopic means connected between said roof support upper portion and said roof support lower portion, said telescopic means arranged to extend and urge said portable roof support upper portion and said lower portion against said mine roof and floor respectively to support the mine roof,

power operated means in said self-propelled vehicle to extend said telescopic means,

flexible means connecting said power operated means to said telescopic means, said flexible means having sufficient length to permit said selfpropelled vehicle to maneuver adjacent to said portable roof support, and

means on said self-propelled vehicle for engaging said portable roof support to transport said portable roof support on said self-propelled vehicle.

2. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof as set forth in claim 1 in which said portable roof support includes,

a pair of parallel spaced double acting telescopic jacks arranged to be extended and retracted by fluid under pressure.

3. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof as set forth in claim 1 in which said roof support upper portion includes,

a pair of pad members rotatably connected to said roof support upper portion, said pad members arranged to be positioned parallel to said support member upper portion to provide roof support along an elongated portion of the roof,

said pad members arranged to be rotated to a position perpendicular to said roof support member upper portion while being supported on said selfpropelled vehicle.

4. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof as set forth in claim 3 which includes,

universal socket members in said roof support lower portion, said jack members having lower portions positioned in said universal socket members. 

1. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof at a preselected location while providing temporary roof support adjacent the preselected location comprising, a self-propelled vehicle having apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof, a portable roof support having an upper portion operable to engage the mine roof and a lower portion operable to engage the mine floor, telescopic means connected between said roof support upper portion and said roof support lower portion, said telescopic means arranged to extend and urge said portable roof support upper portion and said lower portion against said mine roof and floor respectively to support the mine roof, power operated means in said self-propelled vehicle to extend said telescopic means, flexible means connecting said power operated means to said telescopic means, said flexible means having sufficient length to permit said self-propelled vehicle to maneuver adjacent to said portable roof Support, and means on said self-propelled vehicle for engaging said portable roof support to transport said portable roof support on said self-propelled vehicle.
 2. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof as set forth in claim 1 in which said portable roof support includes, a pair of parallel spaced double acting telescopic jacks arranged to be extended and retracted by fluid under pressure.
 3. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof as set forth in claim 1 in which said roof support upper portion includes, a pair of pad members rotatably connected to said roof support upper portion, said pad members arranged to be positioned parallel to said support member upper portion to provide roof support along an elongated portion of the roof, said pad members arranged to be rotated to a position perpendicular to said roof support member upper portion while being supported on said self-propelled vehicle.
 4. Apparatus for inserting permanent roof supports in a mine roof as set forth in claim 3 which includes, universal socket members in said roof support lower portion, said jack members having lower portions positioned in said universal socket members. 